Rem Koolhaas TVCC building in China on fire

Rem Koolhaas TVCC building in China on fire

9 February, 2009

By Dan Stewart

Online reports claim fire has broken out on OMA’s showcase development in Beijing

A signature tower designed by Rem Koolhaas is on fire, according to various internet reports.

The TVCC tower, which is under construction next to the taller CCTV tower in Beijing, has smoke and flames clearly visible from the neighbouring streets.

Witnesses have texted messages to the social networking site Twitter claiming the TVCC tower is on fire, and posting mobile phone images.

In one of the images, flames can clearly be seen from a window about two-thirds of the way up the building and crowds and emergency vehicles in the streets beneath.

The TVCC, or Television Cultural Centre, is to host a hotel, visitor’s centre, public theatre and exhibition space.

The building has been designed by Koolhaas’ practice the Office of Metropolitan Architecture, with structural engineering by UK-based firm Arup.

More to follow.

Picture of TTCV building on fire taken via Twitter by lawrencelry

Pictures of TTCV fire on Chinese google document